Portable golf-putting improvement device and method of using the same

Abstract

In one embodiment, the present invention is a relatively thin, portable device for improving golf putting skills. The device comprises an alignment member and two securing members. The alignment member, which has an elongated and substantially linear shape such that the alignment member can be aligned with a desired trajectory of the golf ball, has indicia thereon for assuring alignment of a putt when the ball is set into motion. Further, the alignment member has indicia thereon to guide a user in making putts using the “straight back, straight through,” “inside, down the line,” and “inside, square, inside” putting methods. The securing members extend perpendicularly from one end of the alignment member in opposite directions such that the putting device is T-shaped. Each securing member has at least one aperture through which a golf tee may be inserted to secure the putting device to a putting surface.

1 . A portable golf-putting device comprising an alignment member (e.g.,  104 ), wherein:
 the alignment member is a substantially linear and elongated surface suitable for aligning the golf-putting device with an intended trajectory of a golf ball on a putting surface;   the alignment member has one or more ball-placement indicia (e.g.,  116 ) located thereon, each of the one or more ball-placement indicia indicating a starting location from which the golf ball is set into motion by a putter; and   the alignment member has one or more putt-alignment indicia (e.g.,  110 ( 1 )) located thereon, the one or more putt-alignment indicia positioned to indicate deviation of the golf ball from the intended trajectory after the golf ball is set into motion by the putter.   
     
     
         2 . The golf-putting device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one securing member (e.g.,  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 )) attached to the alignment member, wherein the at least one securing member is adapted to secure the golf-putting device to the putting surface. 
     
     
         3 . The golf-putting device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one securing member has at least one aperture formed therein (e.g.,  106 ( 1 ),  106 ( 2 ),  108 ( 1 ),  108 ( 2 )), wherein the at least one aperture is adapted to receive a golf tee to secure the golf-putting device to the putting surface. 
     
     
         4 . The golf-putting device of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the at least one securing member comprises at least a first securing member and a second securing member attached to a side of the alignment member opposite the first securing member;   the first securing member has a first aperture formed therein, wherein the first aperture is adapted to receive a golf tee to secure the alignment member to the putting surface;   the second securing member has a second aperture formed therein, wherein the second aperture is adapted to receive a golf tee to secure the alignment member to the putting surface; and   the first aperture is spaced apart from the second aperture such that, when golf tees are inserted through the first and second apertures, the golf tees create a gate through which one or more of a golf ball and a putter head may pass through.   
     
     
         5 . The golf-putting device of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the at least one securing member comprises two securing members; and   the two securing members extend perpendicularly from one end of the alignment member in opposite directions such that the golf-putting device is T-shaped.   
     
     
         6 . The golf-putting device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more putt-alignment indicia is a straight line. 
     
     
         7 . The golf-putting device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more putter-swing indicia (e.g., 110, 112), wherein each of the one or more putter-swing indicia is positioned to indicate deviation of a putter head during a putt attempt from an indicated trajectory of the putter head. 
     
     
         8 . The golf-putting device of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more putter-swing indicia comprises one or more straight-backswing indicia (e.g.,  110 ( 2 )) positioned to indicate deviation of the putter head from a straight-back trajectory during a backswing motion of a putt attempt. 
     
     
         9 . The golf-putting device of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more putter-swing indicia comprises one or more inside-backswing indicia (e.g.,  112 ( 2 )) positioned to indicate deviation of the putter head from an indicated curved trajectory during a backswing motion of a putt attempt. 
     
     
         10 . The golf-putting device of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more putter-swing indicia comprises one or more inside-follow-through indicia (e.g.,  112 ( 1 )) positioned to indicate deviation of the putter head from an indicated curved trajectory during a follow-through motion of a putt attempt. 
     
     
         11 . The golf-putting device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more putter head-positioning indicia (e.g.,  114 ( 1 )- 114 ( 5 )), wherein each of the one or more putter head-positioning indicia is positioned to indicate deviation of a face of a putter from an indicated orientation during a putt attempt. 
     
     
         12 . The golf-putting device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more backswing apex indicia (e.g.,  118 ( 1 )- 118 ( 3 )), wherein each of the one or more backswing apex indicia is positioned to indicate a stopping position of a putter during a backswing motion of a putt attempt. 
     
     
         13 . The golf-putting device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more ball-placement indicia is formed by an aperture in the alignment member. 
     
     
         14 . The golf-putting device of  claim 1 , wherein the golf-putting device further comprises:
 a first securing member having a first aperture formed therein, wherein the first aperture is adapted to receive a golf tee to secure the alignment member to the putting surface;   a second securing member having a second aperture formed therein, wherein:
 the second aperture is adapted to receive a golf tee to secure the alignment member to the putting surface; and 
 the first aperture is spaced apart from the second aperture such that, when golf tees are inserted through the first and second apertures, the golf tees create a gate through which one or more of a golf ball and a putter head may pass through; 
   one or more putter-swing indicia, wherein each of the one or more putter-swing indicia is positioned to indicate deviation of the putter head during a putt attempt from an indicated trajectory;   one or more putter head-positioning indicia, wherein each of the one or more putter head-positioning indicia is positioned to indicate deviation of a face of the putter during a putting attempt from an indicated orientation; and   one or more backswing apex indicia, wherein each of the one or more backswing apex indicia is positioned to indicate a stopping position of the putter during a backswing motion of a putt attempt.   
     
     
         15 . A method for using a golf-putting device, the method comprising:
 (a) placing the golf-putting device on a putting surface such that an alignment member of the golf-putting device is aligned with an intended trajectory, wherein:
 the alignment member is a substantially linear and elongated surface suitable for aligning the golf-putting device with an intended trajectory of a golf ball on a putting surface; 
 the alignment member has one or more ball-placement indicia (e.g.,  116 ) located thereon, each of the one or more ball-placement indicia indicating a starting location from which the golf ball is set into motion by a putter; and 
 the alignment member has one or more putt-alignment indicia (e.g.,  110 ( 1 )) located thereon, the one or more putt-alignment indicia positioned to indicate deviation of the golf ball from the intended trajectory after the golf ball is set into motion by the putter; and 
   (b) placing the golf ball on the one or more ball-placement indicia; and   (c) putting the golf ball from the one or more ball-placement indicia.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the golf-putting device further comprises at least one securing member (e.g.,  102 ( 1 ),  102 ( 2 )) attached to the alignment member, wherein:
 the at least one securing member is adapted to secure the golf-putting device to the putting surface; and 
 the at least one securing member has at least one aperture formed therein (e.g.,  106 ( 1 ),  106 ( 2 ),  108 ( 1 ),  108 ( 2 )), wherein the at least one aperture is adapted to receive a golf tee to secure the golf-putting device to the putting surface; and 
   step (a) further comprises securing the golf-putting device to the putting surface by passing a golf tee through the at least one aperture and into the putting surface.